Reading lamp



Aug. 27, 1946. w. A. TRATSCH READING LAMP Filed July 15, 1944' Patented Aug. 27, 1946 err-ICE READINGYLAMF Walter A. Trat'sch, Chicago, Ill. Application July 15, 1944, Serial No. 545,080

.2Glaims. (Cl. 240-4) 7 This invention relates to certain novel improvements in reading lamps. More specifically the invention relates to a reading lamp which may be attached in a suitable manner to the head of the bed and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a reading lamp especially adapted for attachment to a bedstead at the head thereof and constructed in such manner as to permit the user to increase or decrease the field of light to the comfort and convenience of the user.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for permitting the above adjustment without requiring the bed light to be detached from its fixed position upon the bedstead and without extinguishing the light.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for accomplishing the above adjustment, which is simple in nature and requires very little effort on the part of the user to bring about the desired result.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of 'a bedstead showing my improved invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the inven tion;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 2.

The drawing illustrates the preferred form of construction by which the several objects of my invention are accomplished. In this connection a plug is indicated at l0. and this plug is preferably arranged in a strap I I having a resilient extension |2 whereby the latter may be releasably clamped upon a bed fixture |3 such, for example, as a bedstead at the head thereof. Connected to this plug in. the usual manner is a socket I4, and threaded into this socket M is an electric bulb l5. Carried by the socket I 4 is an enclosure l6 for the bulb l5. This enclosure |6 comprises two interfitting sections I1 and I8, the section l8 being of a smaller diameter than 'the section IT SO as to fit therein for reasons and in the manner hereinafter set forth. The section I8 is secured in any suitable manner to the socket l4 and at its outer end provides a Wall IS. The section like the section I8, is semicircular in cross section and, at

one end, section I! provides a collar 20 adapted to rotate freely upon the socket l4. The opposite end portion of the section I8 provides a wall 2|, and this wall 2| by means of a pin 22 is rotatably connected to the end wall l9.

Carried by the collar 20 is a segmental conductor ring 22, Fig. 3, and this conductor 22 has contact with a head 23 of a conductor 24. Fig. 2, in turn having connection With the cup 25 of the socket l4 into which the bulb I5 is threadably mounted.

Secured to the section H on opposite ends thereof as at 26, are the ends 21 of a cord 28. This cord 28 has one branch 29 thereof payed through an opening 30 formed in a guide block 3| secured as at 32 to the cover section 8. The other branch 33 of this cord is payed through an opening 34 formed in the block 3|. Any means may be employed for attaching the bed light to the bedstead In use, when the sections I! and I8 are in opposed relation with respect to each other, they provide a complete enclosure for the electricbulb l5. In this position of the sections I1 and Hi, the

conductor ring 22' will be rotated from engagement with the conductor 24 so as to disconnect the electric bulb from'the source of electric en ergy 35. The user, to energize the electric bulb and to permit the emission of the light rays from the enclosure, will hold the cord 28 between his or her fingers and, by pulling upon the left-hand branch 29 thereof (Fig. 4) the section |8wil1 be caused to revolve within the section I! and in so revolving, the slit or opening 36 will be enlarged to increase the light area. Should the reader desire to reduce the light area, he does so by applying pulling force to the right-hand cord branch 33 to rotate the section IS in an opposite direction thus to diminish or reduce the Width of the slit 36.

By this arrangement, the reader, with the minimum degree of effort and without removing the reading lamp from its attached position, may ad just the area of the field of light. In pulling upon either of the cord sections, 29 and 33,-the force of the pull is exerted upon the block 3|, which blQCk 3! transmits the force to the section l1,

scope f the appended claims.

causing the same to rotate relative to the sec- .tion 18.

'While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myseli of such variations and modifications as come within the Having thus described my means providing an enclosure for the source of invention, ,what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: g I i v 1. A reading lamp comprisinga source of light,,

sections for the emission of light from the light source, said means comprising a cord having opposite end portions connected to one of said sec-P tions and a member having spaced perforations through which the cord is passed in opposite tov each other toprovide a slit between said seclight comprising two telescopically arranged sec- V tions, and means for rotating one of said sections relative to the other to provide a slit between said tions for the emission of light from said bulb, said .meanscomprising a cord having opposite end porjtions connected to one of said sections and a member having i spaced perforations through which the cord is passed in opposite directions. WALTER A. TRATSCH. 

